Memorable Manitobans: Robert Guy Smethurst (?-2023)

Lawyer.

Born at Calgary, Alberta, son of Jack H. Smethurst, he received a public school education at Victoria and Vancouver. After one year at the University of British Columbia, he moved to Winnipeg where he graduated from the Manitoba Law School in 1952. He served with the Winnipeg Grenadiers militia unit from 1950 to 1963, retiring with the rank of Major.

He practiced law in the Winnipeg firm of D'Arcy, Irving, Haig and Smethurst, being made a Queen's Counsel in 1969. He served as First Vice-President and President (1969-1970) of the Manitoba Bar Association, President of the United Services Institute, and a director of the Rossmere Golf Club and Sir John Franklin Community Club. He was also President of Hobby Horse, a chain of retail toy, hobby, and handicraft stores.

On 22 September 1956, he married Irene Ferley (1931-2001, daughter of Taras Dmytro Ferley) at Holy Trinity Church. He was the Returning Officer for the Assiniboia constituency in the 1962 and 1966 provincial general elections. In recognition of his community service, he received a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977).

He died on 18 February 2023.

Sources:

“Smethurst - Ferley,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 September 1956, page 16.

“Bar group re-elects C. Haig,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 November 1960.

“Jottings from the business world,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 November 1964, page 15.

“9 Queen's Counsel named in new year's honors list,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 January 1969, page 15.

Obituary [Irene Smethurst], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 December 2001.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 28 September 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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